Two Bend residents will face at least three charges of forgery for allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $100-bill at a local Christmas tree lot on Thursday afternoon, and Bend Police suspect that the pair also used bogus bills at other locations including Izzy’s Pizza and Safeway stores.

James Christopher Howlett, 53, and Lorena Diane Petty, 56, were arrested without incident at Grover’s Pizza following a report that they had attempted to pass the fake currency at the tree lot located in the parking lot of the 7-11 convenience store at 1185 S. Highway 97 in Bend about 6 p.m. December 7.

Howlett was lodged in the Deschutes County Jail on three counts of first-degree forgery, and Petty was cited to appear in court for the same charges.

The investigation is continuing, said Kansky, and the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for possible additional charges.He said it appears as ifHowlett had passed other counterfeit $100-bills at other locations in Bend, including Izzy’s Pizza and Safeway stores.